Columbine Aquilegia 'Florida' (State Series)
ABOUT
Aquilegia 'Florida' (State Series), commonly known as Columbine, is a delightful perennial that boasts distinctive and elegant flowers. The blooms of this Columbine variety are particularly striking, with their intricate, multi-layered appearance. Each flower consists of a set of petals that are usually arranged in a star-like formation, surmounted by a contrasting set of petal-like sepals that extend behind them. The sepals often appear as a backdrop to the delicate petals, adding depth to the flower's structure. These flowers typically have a prominent, elongated nectar spur that arcs gracefully backward, which is a characteristic feature of Columbine flowers. This spur contains nectar, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators to the garden. The blossoms themselves come in a mix of colors that may include shades of blue, purple, white, pink, or red, frequently with a contrasting color at the center or edges, providing a bicolored effect that is quite eye-catching. Beyond its flowers, the Columbine 'Florida' showcases a mounding foliage that is equally attractive. The leaves are usually a bright to deep green, and they are lobed or divided into rounded leaflets, giving them a lacy, delicate appearance. The texture of the leaves provides a soft backdrop to the showy flowers and adds to the plant’s ornamental value. Aquilegia 'Florida' adds a touch of elegance to any garden setting, with its unique flowers and attractive foliage making it a favored choice for borders, cottage gardens, or woodland plantings. Its beautiful blooms not only enhance the visual appeal of the garden but also invite a variety of wildlife, contributing to the overall ecological health of the area.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Ranunculaceae
Synonyms
Granny's Bonnet, Columbine
Common names
Aquilegia 'Florida'.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Varies
Height
2 feet (61 cm)
Spread
1 foot (30 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
3
Native area
North America
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts Pollinators: Aquilegia 'Florida' is known to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, enhancing pollination in the garden.
- Aesthetic Appeal: With its distinctive spurred flowers and attractive foliage, this Columbine variety adds visual interest and beauty to landscapes and gardens.
- Low Maintenance: Columbine plants are relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal attention once established, making them suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Tolerant of Different Light Conditions: Columbine can thrive in a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade, offering flexibility in garden placement.
- Diverse Landscaping Use: Suitable for use in borders, woodland gardens, and rock gardens, Columbine is a versatile plant for various landscaping designs.
- Extended Blooming Period: The flowering season of Columbine lasts from spring to early summer, providing a long period of visual enjoyment.
- Cold Hardy: Being cold hardy, Columbine can withstand low temperatures, making it suitable for gardens in cooler climates.
- Resilient: Columbine plants are known for their ability to bounce back from environmental stresses, such as drought, once established.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- As a natural fabric dye: The petals of the Columbine can be used to create a natural dye for fabrics, offering hues varying from soft yellows to greens depending on the mordant used.
- In floral photography: With its unique spur-like petals, the Columbine is a popular subject for macro and nature photography enthusiasts.
- Ephemeral art: The distinct flowers of the Columbine can be used in the creation of ephemeral art pieces, which are artworks created using natural, often perishable, elements.
- Culinary decoration: The flowers of the Columbine can be used as a delicate and ornamental garnish for desserts and salads, though they should be consumed in moderation due to their potential toxicity.
- Symbolism in literature: Writers and poets may use the Columbine as a symbol in their literary works to represent various themes such as folly, innocence, or deserted love.
- Educational tool: The plant can be used in educational settings to teach about plant biology, particularly pollination, due to its unique flower structure that is adapted to attract certain pollinators like hummingbirds.
- Garden photography prop: The Columbine, with its vibrant colors and shapes, serves as an excellent prop to enhance the visual appeal in garden photography settings.
- Crafting pressed flowers: The blooms of the Columbine can be pressed and preserved to create bookmarks, greeting cards, or other artistic projects.
- As a tranquil garden motif: Cultivating Columbine in a garden can contribute to a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, ideal for meditative spaces or contemplative gardens.
- Seasonal celebrations: Due to their early blooming season, Columbines can be used in seasonal festivals or celebrations that mark the transition from spring to summer.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Columbine is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Columbine is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Strength of spirit: The Aquilegia flower, commonly known as Columbine, is believed to symbolize strength and resilience of spirit. The plant's ability to grow in rocky and high-altitude areas alludes to endurance and the capability to thrive in challenging conditions.
- Foolishness: In Elizabethan England, the name "Columbine" was derived from "columbinus," which means "dove-like," but it was also associated with the word "columbine" which meant "fool." Hence, it can represent foolishness, likely tied to the court jesters who wore caps with bells that resembled the flower's shape.
- Deserted love: Due to its nodding head of flowers, Columbine occasionally symbolizes deserted love or being forsaken, as it appears to hang in sorrow.
- Sanctuary: As a perennial with a short bloom time, when Columbine does blossom, it offers a sanctuary of beauty. It is thought to symbolize a place of refuge or safety, echoing the sheltered, nectar-rich flowers that provide sustenance for hummingbirds and bees.
WaterColumbine (Aquilegia 'Florida') should be watered thoroughly, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which typically means watering once or twice a week during active growth periods, depending on climate conditions. Provide the plant with about one gallon of water each time you irrigate it, adjusting for rainfall and temperature, as Columbine prefers evenly moist soil. During the winter, when the plant is dormant, reduce the frequency of watering.
LightColumbine (Aquilegia 'Florida') thrives in a location with partial shade to full sun, ideally receiving morning sunlight and protection from the harsh afternoon sun. An east-facing or north-facing garden spot is perfect, which ensures it gets bright but indirect light for most of the day. Avoid placing Columbine in deep shade as this can reduce blooming and weaken the plant.
TemperatureColumbines (Aquilegia 'Florida') prefer moderate temperatures and can survive minimum temperatures down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate maximum temperatures up to about 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but the ideal temperature range for these plants is between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8 and can endure brief periods of colder or hotter temperatures, but sustained extremes outside of their comfort zone can be detrimental.
PruningColumbine (Aquilegia 'Florida') benefits from pruning to encourage vigorous growth and to maintain a neat appearance. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote further blooming and to prevent self-seeding if desired. After the blooming period, typically in late summer or early fall, cut back foliage to about 2 inches above ground level to tidy up the plant and help prevent diseases. Pruning is also an opportunity to remove any damaged or diseased foliage.
CleaningAs needed
SoilColumbine prefers well-draining, fertile soil with plenty of organic matter. A mix of loam, compost, and coarse sand is ideal. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal growth.
RepottingColumbines generally don't need frequent repotting and prefer to not be disturbed. Repot only when the plant has outgrown its current container, which may be every 2 to 3 years.
Humidity & MistingColumbine thrives in moderate humidity levels but is adaptable to a range of conditions. It does not require high humidity and can tolerate the humidity levels typically found in garden environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light; keep soil moist.
Outdoor
Choose a spot with partial shade; protect from high winds.
Hardiness zone
3-8 USDA
Life cycleAquilegia 'Florida', also known as Columbine, begins its life as a seed that germinates in moist, well-drained soil with partial to full sunlight exposure. After sprouting, the seedling emerges with its first set of true leaves and will continue to develop a deep root system and foliage. The vegetative stage is characterized by the growth of distinctive lobed leaves and the establishment of a sturdy stem. Once mature, Columbine enters the flowering stage, producing unique, nodding flowers with spurred petals that come in various colors, typically in the spring or early summer. After pollination, often facilitated by hummingbirds or bees, the flowers develop into fruit that contains many small, black seeds. The plant eventually senesces, and the seeds disperse to start the lifecycle anew, with the plant capable of self-seeding or perishing after a few years, depending on environmental conditions.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
Columbine 'Florida' (State Series) is commonly propagated by seed as it's the most popular method. The best time to start seeds indoors is 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected spring frost. Sow the seeds in a seed-starting mix, simply pressing them into the surface since they need light to germinate. Maintain a consistent moisture level and an ambient temperature of around 70°F (21°C). Germination usually occurs in 30 to 90 days. Once seedlings have developed their first true leaves and there's no risk of frost, they can be transplanted outside, adhering to a spacing of about 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 centimeters) between plants.
